As the date draws near for the Slinky Art Aid auction organised by Rachel and backed by the South Manchester Reporter, she is also encouraging people to make their own artistic contributions for the fund raiser for Christie's Against Cancer.

Rachel has lined up 18 local artists who have all contributed work free of charge but she also has a large blank canvas on display in her Burton Road gallery in West Didsbury.

The canvas has been divided into 44 rectangles and so far 11 have been filled by gallery visitors who each paid a minimum £1 donation to the art aid exhibition.

Rachel said: "It's been going well. A lot of people have told me they will come back and add their own ideas after they have had a chance to think about it."

And she is keen to encourage everyone's artistic abilities - several spaces have been proudly filled by children, including twinkle twinkle little star drawn by a four-year-old called Maddie.

She has been running the exhibition for a month and has already had a number of written bids for some pieces of work.

"Several came in over the weekend, including one for £100 for one picture," she said.

Didsbury's Metropolitan pub has volunteered to host the auction on Monday, March 4, when all the work will go under the hammer to the highest bidders.

Rachel added: "At the end of the day you can own an original piece of work and feel good for giving to charity."

She chose Christie's Against Cancer to benefit as she was keen to support a local cause and a vote among the contributing artists soon established the Christie as a favourite charity.

The auction, on March 4, will start from 8pm at the Metropolitan in West Didsbury.

The art up for bids can be seen at the Slinky Gallery on Burton Road on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, from 11.30-6pm.